Levon Helm, Beacon Theatre, New York City, 2010
Photo by Frank Beacham
Levon Helm was born 82 years ago today.
Helm was a rock musician and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band. He was known for his deeply soulful, country-accented voice, multi-instrumental ability and creative drumming style highlighted on many of the Band's recordings such as "The Weight," "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
He also had a successful career as an actor, appearing in such films as Coal Miner's Daughter, The Right Stuff, Shooter and In the Electric Mist.
In 1998, Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer, which caused him to lose his singing voice. After undergoing treatment for the disease, his cancer eventually went into remission, which allowed him to gradually regain use of his voice.
In 2007, he released Dirt Farmer, the first of two comeback albums. In 2009, he made Electric Dirt, a follow-up to Dirt Farmer. Both were highly acclaimed albums.
On April 17, 2012, it was announced on Helm's website that he was "in the final stages of his battle with cancer." Two days later, Helm died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He was 71.
Here, Helm performs “Anna Lee” at the Ramble at the Ryman, 2011